Group LeaderDr Katarina Novakovichttp://www.novakovic.me.uk/PDRADr Lynn DonlonLynn graduated with a Masters in Chemistry (1st Class Hons.) from Durham University in 2006. Based with Cytec Engineered Materials, Wilton, and Prof. Nigel Clarke, Durham, her work focused on morphology control in multiphase materials, in particular within epoxy resins. She then returned to Durham, undertaking a Ph.D on the palladium-catalysed vinyl polymerisation of functionalised norbornenes with Drs Phil Dyer and Ezat Khosravi and sponsored by Promerus LLC.In 2009 she took up a post-doc position with Dr Daniel Frankel at Newcastle University, working on a variety of projects. These included interfacing cells with electronics in the development of a bio-hybrid robot and the study of protein-lipid interactions using atomic force spectroscopy.Lynn has remained in Newcastle however returned to the field of polymer chemistry and catalysis joining the Novakovic group on November 2012. Current research aims to interface metal-catalysed oscillatory reactions with responsive materials.PhD StudentsMrs Julie Parker

Julie's PhD research involves development and analysis of predictive physico-chemical models of the palladium-catalysed phenylacetylene oxidative carbonylation reaction. The PCPOC reaction system consumes two gasses, CO and Air (used as a source of oxygen) and to achieve robust prediction of chemical behaviour a fundamental understanding of both the chemical and physical phenomena involved is required.Since the project started we learned a lot about this beautiful reactioin. For more info please see list of publications.

Supervisory team: Dr Katarina Novakovic, School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, Newcastle University Professor Allen Wright, School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, Newcastle University

One of Glenn's "smart" samples:Chitosan-PVP hydrogelscrosslinked with genipin.Chitosan is known to be biocompatible, non-toxic, biodegradable, antimicrobial, mucoadhesive and a strong candidate for drug release. However, owing to the fragility and uncontrollable porosity of chitosan matrices they have limited use. To enhance stability, Glenn is crosslinking chitosan with PVP using genipin. Supervisory team: Dr Katarina Novakovic, School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, Newcastle University Dr Kamelia Boodhoo, School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, Newcastle University Professor Allen Wright, School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, Newcastle University

Mr Chung Kwong YuewKwong Yuew is based at Temasek Polytechnic, Singapore, where he acts as a section Head and lecturer in Biomedical Informatics and Engineering. His qualification inclued MSc(Bioinfo), MEd, MSc(EE) and BEng(EE) . Kwong Yuew's PhD research study aims to create an artificial environment for controlled cell proliferation and differentiation, specifically in mechano-responsive cells such as osteoblasts, by applying smart polymer hydrogel's mechanical oscillations of swelling-deswelling cycles, induced by pH-changing oscillatory chemical reactions, to provide suitable amount of mechanical energy to stimulate cell growth. Supervisory team: Dr Katarina Novakovic, School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, Newcastle University Dr Mark Birch, Medical School, Newcastle University Dr Ming Tham, School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, Newcastle University Singapore

MEng StudentsMr Spryridon Diakakis﻿Spyros joined group in January 2014 to conduct his final MEng project. He studied the release kinetics of amoxicillin from chitosan-PVP-Genipin cross-linked hydrogels for application in targeted drug delivery.Supervisor: Dr Katarina Novakovic, School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, Newcastle University﻿

nosocomial Infections in HospitalsMaryam joined group in January 2014 to conduct her final MEng project. Her project involved engineering antibacterial hydrogels for the prevention of nosocomial Infections in hospitals.Supervisors: Dr Katarina Novakovic, School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, Newcastle University Dr Jarka Glassey, School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, Newcastle University

Miss Heather CampbellHeather joined group in January 2014 to conduct her final MEng project. She studied the effect of freezing, thawing and freeze-thaw cycling on the morphological and mechanical properties of smart genipin cross-linked PVP-chitosan hydrogels.

Supervisor: Dr Katarina Novakovic, School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, Newcastle University

MSc Students﻿Miss Chinyelumndu Jennifer Nwosu﻿Jennifer joined the group in February 2013 to conduct her MSc project. She completed project in August 2013 and achieved 1st Class mark. Jennifer’s research focused on the evaluation of factors that influence the smart response displayed by pH responsive Chitosan-Poly (Vinyl Pyrrolidone)-Genipin cross-linked hydrogels. Supervisor: Dr Katarina Novakovic, School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, Newcastle University

Mr Yang LuYang worked in our group between February and August 2013. His MSc project involved oscillatory chemical reactions. Two oscillators were investigated, Belousove-Zhabotinshky reaction and Bromate-Sulfite-Ferrocyanide system. Supervisor: Dr Katarina Novakovic, School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, Newcastle University

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